 Cheng had pock marks on his face when he was young and thus he was known as “third son with pock marks” Cheng.Cheng Tinghua was fond of martial arts and in his youth he gained skill at wielding a nearly 4 foot long broadsword and a large heavy staff.When Cheng was still fairly young, he left his hometown and went to Beijing to apprentice with a gentleman who made eyeglasses.